UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay
Robots and AI in homes for the elderly could ease social care crisis, says Health Secretary Steve Bar- clay. Health Secretary believes the social care crisis could be eased by using robots and AI in homes for the elderly.
Mr Barclay flew to Japan, which has the world’s oldest population and already uses robots in care
homes across the country. He visited the Silver Wing Social Welfare Corp, a Tokyo-based nursing
home operator that uses humanoid robots and AI technology to entertain and monitor its residents.
care can be better delivered earlier and I think technology has a key role to play.”
The health minister suggested robots and AI can help in better supporting patients and reducing de- mand on health and social care staff.
Mr Barclay said the Japanese were “world leaders in their use of tech” and that they have invested in a wide range of technologies, including robotics, “as a key way of getting care to patients,” adding “that is something we can learn from”.
Silver Wing uses several types of robots in its care homes. At its Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo, humanoid talking robots interact with patients, including those with dementia, and lead 16
“I think there’s a space to look at what is working in other healthcare systems,” Mr Barclay told the Telegraph in an interview ahead of his trip to the G7 Summit in Nagasaki. “I think a key challenge we face within the UK is frail, elderly patients admitted to emergency departments, when often care can be better delivered earlier and I think technology has a key role to play.”
The health minister suggested robots and AI can help in better supporting patients and reducing de- mand on health and social care staff.
Mr Barclay said the Japanese were “world leaders in their use of tech” and that they have invested in a wide range of technologies, including robotics, “as a key way of getting care to patients,” adding “that is something we can learn from”.
Silver Wing uses several types of robots in its care homes. At its Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo, humanoid talking robots interact with patients, including those with dementia, and lead.
